Surgical abortions halted at Pittsburgh clinic

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A downtown Pittsburgh clinic has halted surgical abortions until it can make renovations that meet new state safety standards.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania says the clinic still offers drug-induced abortions, but likely won't offer surgical abortions until at least next month.

A state law passed last year requires abortion clinics to meet the same regulations and standards as ambulatory surgical facilities, and requires regular and unannounced inspections.

The law was prompted by a Philadelphia clinic where a doctor has been accused of performing illegal abortions that killed a woman and viable infants, whose spinal cords were allegedly cut with scissors. That doctor, 71-year-old Kenneth Gosnell, is scheduled to stand trial next year.